A OLDHAM businessman is defying a council order to turn his restaurant back into a the terraced home it once was.

Raja Miah says he has spent £50,000 on developing his organic Asian eatery and will not bow to planners rules or be intimidated by racist yobs who have targeted his restaurant.

He owns the Nawaabe Prestige Organic Restaurant, on Rochdale Road, Royton which opened its doors to customers a month ago. But he has come under fire from local councillors, who are demanding that he shuts down immediately.

Racist yobs have also sprayed the words 'Pakies out' at the back of his building, his staff were attacked by two racist drunks and he has had mail telling him to 'p*** off'.

Mr Miah lost a planning appeal earlier this year after opposition from residents, who claim the takeaway will create noise and increase traffic. But Mr Miah said by the time he heard about appeal decision, he had already spent over £50,000 on the conversion.

He said with so many established businesses on the same row as his, including two takeaways and a bar only 200 yards away and four busy pubs in close proximity, he felt confident that he will get planning permission.

He said: "I honestly thought I would get it and I explained there were already many businesses on the same road, so I don't understand why they won't give me the go-ahead. I even proposed to open early and close at 10pm, there is plenty of parking places in front of the restaurant, unlike some of the other businesses.

"I have spent a lot of money in converting the property, and I just cannot see that money go to waste. The council has issued a stop notice, but I have ignored it. I know they will fine me, but what else can I do? The planning committee are being unfair towards me.

"And now I am getting racist abuse from local yobs. It's disheartening but I am determined to carry on."

Mr Miah, who is also a local property dealer, said he had opened the restaurant for his two younger brothers.

"I wanted to give them the opportunity to run their own business and make a success out of it. I was only looking out for my brothers' and their interests. The restaurant is unique in the area. There are no other Indian restaurants in the locality selling pure organic dishes.

"I thought it would have been a proposal that the planning committee would have supported. I don't want to cause any further upset in the local community but they must understand the investment that has gone into the business and I cannot afford to give up."